LaBowls Launches “Beyond the Bowl” to Spotlight Wheeling Restaurants

WHEELING, W.Va. – May 20, 2026 – Local smoothie bowl business LaBowls, owned by Brian Campbell and Sami Labelle, in partnership with Wheeling Heritage, is launching Beyond the Bowl, a six-episode YouTube mini-series celebrating food, collaboration, and community throughout the Ohio Valley.

Filmed and produced by Wheeling Heritage, the series blends culinary competition with local storytelling by pairing LaBowls with a different local restaurant in each episode. Throughout the series, participating restaurants will recreate one of LaBowls’ signature bowls while the LaBowls team recreates one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Guest judges will score each dish based on taste, creativity, presentation, and how closely the recreation matches the original.

Designed to be fun, uplifting, and community-focused, Beyond the Bowl highlights the people and businesses helping shape Wheeling’s growing food scene while encouraging collaboration over competition. Beyond the Bowl aims to increase visibility for local restaurants, encourage tourism and foot traffic, and create positive digital content that showcases the Ohio Valley’s entrepreneurial and creative spirit.

“Since we started LaBowls last July, the support from the community has been incredible,” said the LaBowls team. “Bringing this idea to Wheeling, we knew it would take a village to help us get off the ground. Everyone has really welcomed us with open arms. Beyond the Bowl is everything we stand for. It’s a new and creative way to give back to Wheeling while having fun along the way. We’re excited to help showcase some of the businesses we aspire to be like.”

“We love supporting small businesses through a variety of our programs, and we’re always excited by innovative, fresh ideas,” said Riley Carpenter, director of programming for Wheeling Heritage. “When Brian and Sami brought this concept to us, we were immediately excited about it and eager to find ways to help bring it to life. It’s inspiring to see young entrepreneurs investing their energy into creative projects that celebrate local businesses and contribute to the continued growth of Wheeling.”

The LaBowls also expressed appreciation for the sponsors and community supporters who have already jumped on board to help bring the project to life. Businesses or organizations interested in sponsoring the series are encouraged to contact Brian Campbell directly at (304) 650-5655 or labowls304@gmail.com.

Filming is expected to begin in early June, with additional details, participating restaurants, and episode release dates to be announced soon. Community members can follow LaBowls on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

About Wheeling Heritage:
Wheeling Heritage is a catalyst for the revitalization of Wheeling. Through historic preservation, community development, and the arts, we help to tell Wheeling’s story and shape its future. We seek to improve the quality of life in Wheeling by preserving and investing in our city, collaborating with others, and engaging the citizens of Wheeling in our work.